UAPB’s Dawn Thornton talks Sydney Carter, balancing love and coaching

Arkansas-Pine Bluff coach Dawn Thornton knows exactly what Sydney Carter has experienced over the past week.

The Texas A&M assistant was simply standing on the sideline, minding her businesses and helping coach her team when she became a lightning rod for conversation. More precisely – her outfit became the subject of social media commentary about the “appropriateness” of her attire, which consisted of a white turtleneck and hot pink leather pants.

It is something that Thornton and many other coaches that look like her have had to deal with at one time or another.

Thornton remembers someone attempting to police her outfit when she was coaching at Prairie View A&M. 

“I remember about eight years ago when I was coaching and I got a phone call from another one of my former colleagues – a black female –  and she had a conversation with me about the way that I dress on the sideline,” she told HBCU Gameday. “And immediately I was offended by it because for me, she was like, coach you’re tall and you got curves. Sometimes you just got to pick and choose what you wear.”

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This week on SIAC Sit Down, Sly and Jamie welcome one of the most respected coaches in HBCU football, Edward Waters University Head Coach Brian Jenkins, for an in-depth conversation about his life, career, and vision for the Tigers.Coach Jenkins takes us back to his roots in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, sharing how his passion for football led him into coaching and the mentors who helped shape his journey.The conversation dives into his incredible run at Bethune-Cookman, where he built a championship culture and led the Wildcats to multiple conference titles while becoming one of the winningest coaches in HBCU football.Coach Jenkins also discusses accepting the Edward Waters job just two weeks before fall camp, the challenges of stepping into a new program on short notice, and the opportunity to build something special in Jacksonville.He shares his thoughts on working alongside Athletic Director Ashley Conner and President A. Zachary Faison, explaining why he believes the university is positioned for success both on and off the field.Finally, Coach Jenkins lays out his vision for the upcoming season, the culture he's creating, and what Tiger fans can expect as Edward Waters continues to rise.🔥 If you love HBCU football, SIAC news, and exclusive interviews with the biggest names in the game, this is an episode you don't want to miss!Be sure to:👍 Like the video💬 Leave a comment and tell us your predictions for Edward Waters this season🔔 Subscribe to SIAC Sit Down for weekly interviews, analysis, and everything happening around the SIAC and HBCU football.#SIAC #SIACSitDown #EdwardWaters #EWU #BrianJenkins #HBCUFootball #HBCU #CollegeFootball #BlackCollegeFootball #Jacksonville #TigerFootball #Duval

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Standing 6’2 and often wearing four-to-five inch heels, Thornton definitely stands out on the sidelines. While she didn’t like what was said to her, she says she attempted to conform – but it didn’t last long. She says after a month, she went back to dressing the way she wished.

“I’m going to be me,” she said. “I’m the diva coach. That’s who I am. That’s who I’ve always been, and nobody is going to put me in a box. You do things respectfully. We are who we are. We always talk about our black is beautiful, you know, we have to protect each other.”

So what did she think about the ensemble that Sydney Carter shook the internet with? 

“She looked she looked amazing,” Thornton said. “How can you police a young, upcoming, vibrant coach? It was fitting for her age, and she’s completely covered. I mean, what more? What more do you want?”

Another HBCU women’s coach told HBCU Gameday she was reprimanded early in her career after she forgot to wear stockings with her dress.

In addition to the hot-button topic, we talked about her team, the evolution of SWAC basketball and balancing being married to another coach – Grambling State defensive coordinator Cedric Thornton.

Listen to the full podcast below.